Paramount Chief Of Sandor Chiefdom Installed
By Marian Samu

MONDAY, 6TH JUNE 2005: The institution of Paramount Chieftaincy which had over the years lost much of its values is now gaining the dignity and importance it once carried in the early 1960's and even prior to independence .

President Kabbah's vision has been the resuscitation of local government administrations and the devolution of responsibility to local authourities. In a move to manifest his commitment to the decentralization process, President Kabbah has moved away from the former system of recognizing Paramount Chiefs at State House in Freetown to meeting the newly-elected Paramount Chiefs in their chiefdoms and get them recognized in the presence of the chiefdom people themselves.

On Sunday, 5th June 2005, President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was in Kayima, the headquarter town of Sandor chiefdom in the Kono District, to officially recognize the installation of the newly elected Paramount Chief, P.C. Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku.

While explaining the purpose of the institution of paramount chieftaincy, Vice President Solomon Berewa said that Paramount Chiefs are the representatives of the government at the chiefdom level and that without Paramount chiefs there would be no law and order and therefore no security. He said the chiefs are responsible for law and order in their chiefdoms and that Government relies on them for consultation and advice. The Vice President underscored the return of respect and dignity to Paramount Chiefs, adding that once a Paramount Chief is elected, he will have the full support of Government

On the matter of Paramount Chiefs and politics, the Vice President said there is no law prohibiting the Chiefs from involving in politics, adding that as custodians of their people they cannot sit by while their people tread the wrong path, or allow people with bad intentions to bring their chiefdoms to disrepute.

Presenting the newly elected Paramount Chief, the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Mr. Sidikie Braima said the election of the chief was conducted strictly in accordance with the guidelines for the election of Paramount Chiefs that was in operation in the colonial days. Mr. Braima told his audience that this was the 68th Paramount Chief to be recognized and installed by President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah since his assumption of office in 1996. The Local Government Minister said that P.C. Sheku Amadu Fasuluku polled 95.1% of the total votes cast.

The thirty-nine year old P.C. Sheku Tejan Fasuluku comes from the Fasuluku/Sonsiama ruling house. He holds a BSc in Agriculture from the Njala University College and an MSc in Forestry. Until his election in May this year, P.C. Fasuluku worked in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security as Regional Forestry Officer, Eastern Region, and as a part-time lecturer at the Njala University College. He was also Coordinator of the Gola Forest Conservation Concession Programme.

While recognizing the newly elected Paramount Chief, the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah amongst other things advised the people to remember that the election of a Paramount Chief in any chiefdom should serve to unify and not polarize the people of the chiefdom. He said that since he became President in 1996, his government has worked very hard not only to restore the dignity of chieftaincy, but also to enhance its role as a unifying instrument in our society.

President Kabbah reminded the people of controversies that have surrounded the election of Paramount chiefs in the past, which had led to serious conflicts in various parts of the country. He stated that in a bid to avoid a recurrence of such developments and to further enhance the constructive role of chiefs, Government has reverted to measures that promote transparency, accountability and fairness in the conduct of chiefs and in the process of electing Paramount Chiefs. The President particularly highlighted the declaration process, which has in the past been surrounded by acrimony and tension. This process, he said, is now conducted on the basis of recognized customs and practices relating to claims to Paramount Chieftaincy.

The President commended the people of Sandor Chiefdom for the remarkable degree of maturity displayed in the conduct of the elections. While congratulating the new Paramount Chief, President Kabbah admonished him that the new authority and power bestowed on him can only be meaningful if used with great magnanimity and humility for the benefit of the people of his community. In addition,he offered him his total support as he embarks on the process of reconciling his people and developing his chiefdom.

P.C. Sheku Fasuluku thanked President Kabbah, Vice President Berewa and entourage for traveling all the way to Kayima for this historic occasion, and promised to take all their advice in good faith. He called on all of his people, both supporters and non-supporters to work together for the development of Sandor chiefdom. He thanked the authorities for the manner in which the election was conducted especially in allowing the truth to prevail.

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